Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-03-24
MR.. ROYALS CASE.
ARGuMxnror couHssLBErox1 JUDGE
DoBr YEsf41DAY.
The Decision to bs Given In Writing,
and Probably to be Ready
To-Day, &c.

The United States Circnit Court
Hon. HI Bond presiding-was occu-
pied all day yesterday in hearing the
case of Mr.. w. L. Royal vs. the Ser
geant of the city Of Richmond.
Mr. Royal is counsel for the corpo-
ration Of foreign bondholders Of Lon
don, England, and is employed by
them to act for parties who may get
into litigation, &C., by ressonof tender
ing for taxes the States tax-receivable
coupons. Under the barratry act OF
the General Assembly he was indicted
for advising and encouraging ID. DYSON.
Of Petersburg, to bring suit against
the treasurer OF Petersburg, who had
refused to receive Dyson's coupons
Immediately following this indictment
Royal brought suit for damages against
each member of the Hustings-Court
grand jury. For so doing the Attorney
for the Commonwealth lodged an in
formation in the Hastings Court against
Royal for intimidating the grand jury.
RoYALL TRIED.
On this information he was tried,
found guilty, and ordered TO pay fine
of $3.50, which refusing to do he was
committed to jail for six months. He
made no attempt to appeal from the
Hastings Court OF Richmond to the
Supreme Court of Virginia, but sued
from Judge Bond writ of hdbeds cor
pus and was thus brought into the
United States Circuit Court.
THE RECORD.
An hour or more yesterday morning
was spent by counsel in shaping up the
record Of the Hastings Court proceed
ings, so as to bring before Judge Bond
with the utmost distinctness whether
Mr.. Royal was illegally in custody or
not.
COUNSEL.
Mr.. Royal presented some OF the
facts in his own behalf, and his case
was then argued by General Bradley
L. Johnston, of Baltimore, and Hon.
ID. III. Chamberlain, of New York. The
State was represented by Attorney
General Ayers and Mr.. W. Il. Mere
dith. both of whom spoke at length,
presenting with force the reasons why
in their opinion the petitioner should
be remanded to the custody OF the
Sergeant and the State laws be allowed
to take their course.
Mr.. Ayers contended that hdbeas
corpus was not a proper remedy that
Royal, if he had felt aggrieved at the
decision of the Hastings Court, should
have appealed to the Supreme Court OF
Virginia.
MIR. Meredith insisted that the suits
brought against the grand jurors were
| in the nature of q menace, aud were
I justified by no precedents, laws, or au'
thorities.
RoYALL HAS THE RIGHT TO SUE TIL
JUDGE OR ANYBODY ELSE.
Mr.. Chamberlain said that, according
to his view of the case, the simple ques
ton is whether the Hastings Cour
could punish Royal as criminal be
cause he has exercised his constitutions
remedy of suing certain citizens. Iti
not a question whether a suit can b'
maintained. 81 have the right, sale
he, "to bring any action against you
Honor for any act you have ever done
| / may be driven ont of court ignomi
niously but there is no law-never hs
been any law-to prevent me bringing
my suit. The grand Juror is notexempt
The suit might not be maintained MI
Royal might have to pay costs and b.
vexatious repetitions be liable to Othe
penalties. 1t is certainly Fedora
right of his to apply to this court as
suitor. He has not taken any gran'
jurors property. He has not mad
them suffer. He has exercised righ
conferred by the Federal Constitution.
Now" said Mr.. Chamberlain, "thi
is simply an attempt to punish suitor
That is what it is, and ne more. NJ
doubt if / make myself vexatious ant
litigisus spirit lean be punished with ap
propriate penalties, but there never ha
been case in the history of the Eng
lish-speaking people where the doors o
the courts were closed to any mai
bringing suit. The President, tn,
Chief Justice, is liable to be sued
Now, what does this right to SUI
amount to il, as the Attorney-Genera
says, Mr.. Royal can proceed with hi
suits in this court and the Husting
Court can in each case send him to jai
for six months ?"
A GRACEFUL DUTY.
"If there is" continued Mr.. Cham
berlain, "a plain duty-I will add
pleasant and graceful duty-for judg
who loves justice and hates wrong,
will be to discharge from custody thi
petitioner, and say in effect that thes
disgraceful proceedings shall cease"
JUDGE BOND TAKES TIME.
Judge Bond said that this is an i'm
portant case and that he would put hi
opinion in writing. In the mean tim
the prisoner would remain in the custOd
of the United States Marshal.
II was now nearly 3 o'clock and tn
court adjourned, and Mr. Royal and
number Of friends went down to Mai
street together.
Mr.. RoyaII az a subject of Legisls
tive wttticfsm.
Shortly after the House assemble
yesterday Mr.. Curlett (Republican) o
fered the following:
Resolved, That the General Assem-
bly, of Virginia tender to the Hon
Hugh L. Bond, Judge Of the Unite
States Circuit Court, our heartfe
thanks for his action in the case Of th
Commonwealth es. w. L. Royal.
Re8otued, further, That any membt
Of either branch of the General Assem-
bly, who shall advocate the repudiatio
of the honest debt Of Virginia shall
fined not less than S25 nor more tha
1000 and be deprived Of all free pass
ON railroads.
The Speaker directed that the res
lutions be read. Clerk Bigger read Il
first one and portion OF the Sc
| opJ xyhan the Sneaker announced TN